Apparatus and method for destructive removal of particles contained in flowing fluid

An apparatus for removing particles from a flowing gas containing said particles comprising:

• means for so directing the flowing gas as to pass said particles through a predetermined location;
• and
• means for destructively removing said particles, said means being constructed and arranged to provide a spark discharge when said particles pass through said predetermined location, said apparatus being connected to an internal combustion engine and said gas and particles are exhaust products of said internal combustion engine, said means for directing said particles through a predetermined location comprises:
• a first conduit for containing said exhaust products with flow in the direction of the axis of said conduit;
• a longitudinally-extending electrode disposed in said first conduit with its axis parallel to the axis of said first conduit;
• means for providing a voltage between said electrode and said first conduit whereby said particles will become charged by, and thus repelled by said electrode, thereby repelling said particles towards an inner surface portion of said first conduit;
• a second conduit in fluid communication with said first conduit;
• means for diverting a portion of said exhaust products adjacent to said inner surface portion of said first conduit into said second conduit;
• and
• means for locating said means for destructively removing said particles in said second conduit.

An apparatus for removing particles from a flowing gas containing said particles comprising:

• means for so directing the flowing gas as to pass said particles through a predetermined location;
• and;
• means for destructively removing said particles, said means being constructed and arranged to provide a spark discharge when said particles pass through said predetermined location, said apparatus being connected to an internal combustion engine, and said gas and particles are exhaust products from said internal combustion engine, and said means for directing said particles through a predetermined location comprises a conduit for containing said exhaust products with flow in the direction of the axis of said conduit, and said means for destructively removing said particles from said predetermined location comprises:
• filter means located in said conduit for blocking said particles while passing said gas through said conduit;
• a laser;
• and
• means for directing an output beam from said laser to said filter means for destructively removing said blocked particles from said filter means.

An apparatus for destructively removing particles from a flowing gas comprising:

• a conduit having an axis for containing said flowing gas in a direction of said axis;
• a longitudinally-extending electrode positioned along the axis of said conduit;
• a plurality of conductors positioned along the inner surface of said conduit, said conductors being spaced apart on the inner surface of said conduit and parallel to said longitudinally-extending electrode to form a spark discharge grid;
• a DC power supply for applying a voltage between adjacent ones of said conductors, said voltage being sufficiently large to cause an electric spark discharge to be initiated by one of said particles when it passes between adjacent ones of said conductors;
• and
• means for applying a voltage between said longitudinally-extending electrode and said conduit to charge particles flowing in said conduit with a charge of the same polarity as that of the voltage applied to said electrode, thereby repelling particles toward said spark discharge grid.

An apparatus for destructively removing particles from a flowing gas comprising:

• a conduit for containing said flowing gas;
• a filter means located in said conduit for blocking said particles from passing therethrough;
• a laser for generating an output light beam of high intensity to vaporize said particles;
• means for directing said output light beam to said blocked particles;
• and
• means for triggering said laser to periodically generate said output light beam.

Apparatus for destructively removing particles from a flowing gas containing said particles, said apparatus comprising:

• first means for directing said particles through a predetermined location;
• and
• second means located at said predetermined location for vaporizing said particles so that they will chemically combine with other portions of said flowing gas, thereby destructively removing said particles from said flowing gas, said second means comprising:
• a filter for blocking passage of said particles;
• a laser for generating an output light beam having a sufficient intensity to vaporize said particles;
• and
• means for directing said laser light beam at said blocked particles.

An apparatus for destructively removing particles from a flowing gas, comprising:

• a plurality of parallel conductors, each of said conductors being spaced from adjacent conductors to form a discharge grid;
• means for directing said flowing gas so that said particles contained therein will pass between said conductors;
• means for producing agglomerations of said particles between said conductors;
• and
• means for applying a voltage between adjacent ones of said conductors to generate an electric spark discharge initiated by said agglomerations of particles passing between adjacent ones of said conductors, said electric spark discharge destructively removing at least a portion of said agglomerations of particles.

A method for destructively removing particles from a flowing gas, wherein dimensional characteristics of said particles are known, the steps comprising:

• locating a plurality of conductors so that they are spaced apart to form a spark discharge grid;
• applying a voltage between adjacent ones of said conductors that is chosen to be sufficiently high for an electric spark discharge to be initiated between adjacent ones of said conductors when one of said particles is located therebetween;
• and
• directing said flowing gas so that particles contained therein will pass between said conductors.

A method for destructively removing particles from a flowing gas, wherein dimensional characteristics of said particles are known, the steps comprising:

• locating a plurality of conductors so that they are spaced apart to form a spark discharge grid;
• directing said flowing gas so that said particles contained therein will pass between said conductors;
• causing a concentration of said particles to accumulate between said conductors;
• and
• applying a voltage between adjacent ones of said conductors to generate an electric spark discharge initiated by said concentration of particles located between said conductors, said electric spark discharge destructively removing a portion of said particles.